Alese Johnston spent her life putting others first, but now she’s finally focusing on herself. The result? More adventurous and happier than ever. Her story recently caught the attention of The Guardian, inspiring us all to embrace new beginnings at any age.
A Newspaper Article That Changed Her Life
One Sunday morning, Alese was on the couch reading The Wall Street Journal when she came across a story about a 60-year-old writer who felt stuck, always telling the same stories to friends. "That’s me," she thought. A few weeks later, on her 70th birthday, she made a bold decision: to try 70 completely new things over the next year.
She Planned Plenty of New Adventures
Alese created a website, made a spreadsheet, and started listing ideas. Her only rule: every activity had to be something she’d never done before. She started simple—tasting a Vietnamese spring roll—but soon dove into some truly amazing adventures.
Pushing Her Boundaries Again and Again
In the months that followed, excitement and learning filled Alese’s life: she attended a conference offering an erotic guide—a boundary-pushing, transformative experience for her. She learned pole dancing, took flying lessons, swapped appetizers for dessert, explored new hiking trails, created a meme coin (a cryptocurrency inspired by internet jokes and memes), and even tried Brazilian waxing.
When meeting friends, their first question was always, “What did you try this week?” Alese laughs, saying she couldn’t even visit the chiropractor without sharing her latest adventures.
The Power of Divorce and Self-Discovery
Two years before this project, Alese divorced after 30 years of marriage. She realized she wasn’t truly herself and decided it was time to be honest with who she really was.
She’d always felt the need to play a responsible role, carefully managing her time and money. In her late 60s, if her partner didn’t want to go out, she wouldn’t go alone.
Therapy and journaling helped her see clearly what she truly wanted. The key question she faced was: What do I want? Not others, but me. This shift changed her life completely.
Balancing Responsibility and Courage
One day, she realized she didn’t need anyone’s permission. It was okay to be a little reckless. The world wouldn’t fall apart if she set off alone.
Her childhood wasn’t easy: a strict father made her shy, and she remembers being afraid even of her own shadow. But over the years, she learned to let go of fear and live boldly.
Career and New Beginnings
Alese studied art in college and had a brief first marriage. Her grandmother helped her become self-sufficient as a single mom, so she learned coding in night school during the 1980s. Later, she worked as a banking advisor, then became an entrepreneur. Now, she’s launching a project focused on overcoming loneliness and improving quality of life.
Still Adventurous at 71
At 71, Alese has completed her 70 missions but remains open to new experiences. She’s more adventurous, loves learning new things, and feels she’s found herself. She’s living her best chapter yet.
Her story proves it’s never too late to start fresh, live boldly, and discover life’s joys—no matter your age.
